Angel Karolyi and Wings Win $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix at HITS Ocala
OCALA, Florida (March 8, 2015): HITS Ocala VIII finished up with the $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, held in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium on Sunday. Angel Karolyi of Aiken, South Carolina, riding McLain Ward’s Wings was the only rider to have two clear rounds for the win.
Karolyi went last in the jump-off and took a chance by going slowly and carefully, riding for a clear round. Thirty-seven competed over the course designed by Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, Mexico. The course took its toll in both the first round and the jump-off with only seven going clean in the first round. Faults were scattered throughout the course but a difficult diagonal line of fences starting with a triple bar on a two stride combination, to a narrow vertical created some questions for the riders in both the first round and the jump-off.
In the jump-off, VanderVeen went first and four faults at the tricky combination, finishing with a time of 48.662, for third place. The winner of last Sunday’s $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix, on Bull Run's Faustino de Tili, was happy with her ride saying, “My horse jumped really well. We just got a little unlucky at the combination [with a downed rail at 8b].”
Eight-year-old Liratus and Devin Ryan jumped huge over the triple bar then stopped at the combination finishing seventh with multiple faults. Next up was Quincy Car and Cardenas who went clear all the way to the end, and just caught the back rail of the final oxer for four faults in 47.162. The next three had eight faults, leaving the door open for Karolyi, who took a chance at the clear and made it all the way home for the win.
Karolyi said, “It was risky going for the clear but I heard them announce that there were only two with four faults as I was riding towards the first fence and I figured if I had a rail I would still be third, so I took the chance — I wanted to win."
Time change: Please note the Great American American $1 Million Grand Prix is now scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2015.
Tickets are on sale now! General Admission is $10, or enjoy all the benefits of Day VIP for $100. To order, go to OcalaTix.com (online service fee applies), visit the HITS Post Time Farm Horse Show Office or call the office at 352.867.0508.
(c) ESI Photography
Angel Karolyi and Wings, owned by McLain Ward, Win the $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, Sunday, March 8, 2015, at HITS Ocala.
(c) ESI Photography
Angel Karolyi and Wings, owned by McLain Ward, Win the $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, Sunday, March 8, 2015, at HITS Ocala.
$50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix - HITS Ocala - Week VIII
| Place | Horse | Owner | Rider | Prize | Rd. 1 Faults | JO Faults | JO Time |
| 1 | Wings | McLain Ward | Angel Karolyi | $15,000 | 0 | 0 | 52.000 |
| 2 | Quincy Car | Dr. Fernando Cardenas | Dr. Fernando Cardenas | $11,000 | 0 | 4 | 47.162 |
| 3 | Bull Run's Testify | Bull Run Jumpers, Inc. | Kristen VanderVeen | $6,500 | 0 | 4 | 48.662 |
| 4 | Lyonell | Trelawny Farm, LLC | Cara Raether | $4,000 | 0 | 8 | 48.539 |
| 5 | Cordovo | Gaston Family Investments LLC | Ian Silitch | $3,000 | 0 | 8 | 49.435 |
| 6 | S & L Elite | S & L Farms | Dorothy Douglas | $2,500 | 0 | 8 | 55.431 |
| 7 | Liratus | Devin Ryan | Devin Ryan | $2,000 | 0 | 15 | 63.528 |
| 8 | Cooper | Devin Ryan | Devin Ryan | $1,500 | 4 | * | 0 |
| 9 | Casall | Blacklick Bend Farm | Ali Wolff | $1,500 | 4 | * | 0 |
| 10 | FVF Sailor Man | Fox View Farm | Maryann Charles | $1,000 | 4 | * | 0 |
| 11 | Lazaro | Jordan Coyne | Jordan Coyne | $1,000 | 4 | * | 0 |
| 12 | Cassevel | Hays Investment Corp. | Hunter Holloway | $1,000 | 4 | * | 0 |
About Purina
With more than 100 years of experience, Purina is the most innovative manufacturer of equine nutrition in America. The feeds Purina produces affords horse owners dependable, solid and consistent product. Feeding choices are largely affected by the lifestyle of the horse. Purina’s premium feeds can accommodate any and all of a horse’s needs. Today, horses are living substantially longer lives and Purina and its products are proud of the role they have played in this positive development. How we take care of our horses is a reflection of our love for the animal and the joy they bring us.
About HITS, Inc.
HITS, Inc. produces high quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the Village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia.
While hosting the richest weekend in show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson, HITS also formed the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Mortgage Call, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, in Saugerties, New York.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.
2015 Horse Show Dates
HITS Desert Circuit | Thermal, CA | January 13 - March 15, 2015
HITS Ocala Winter Circuit | Ocala, FL | January 13 - March 23, 2015
HITS Arizona Winter Circuit | Tucson, AZ | January 28 - March 8, 2015
HITS Culpeper Show Series | Culpeper, VA | April / July / August / September
HITS Saugerties Show Series | Saugerties, NY | May-June / July-August / September
HITS Championship | Saugerties, NY | September 2-6, 2015
HITS Marshall & Sterling Insurance National Finals | September 9-13, 2015
National Sunshine Series | October 28 - November 8, 2015
|
|